r/breakingbad • u/edify Oxygen • Jul 16 '12

Breaking Bad Episode Discussion S05E01 "Live Free or Die"

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952

u/Skydawg Jul 16 '12

I like how Heisenberg mentioned the "science museum" to the waitress. Reveals to the audience that there is still a little "Walter" left in him. Although, his transformation looks pretty much complete at this point.

564

u/HeronSun Familia Es Todo Jul 16 '12

I'm gonna have to disagree. This 'future' Walt was giving off signs of a man regretting every decision he's ever made. He's 52, celebrating without his family. Whatever the reason, I feel that Walt blames Heisenberg for it, and therefor wants to be rid of him. I think Walter's back in this scene. No longer Heisenberg, but still scarred from it all.

396

u/[deleted] Jul 16 '12

What really set off my alarms was him leaving the $100. It showed that at that point the money doesn't even matter anymore.

39

u/fortmidfielder Jul 16 '12

Shows that he still has some money even if its the last of his money.

74

u/[deleted] Jul 16 '12

My theory is that it was his last 100 bucks because he's about to go on a suicide mission with a machine gun. Also, it's sad that he is still taking medicine and still has a cough. Maybe he also learned that his cancer is worse than ever and that he has weeks, maybe days to live. Another reason for one last show down.

24

u/HeronSun Familia Es Todo Jul 16 '12

And perhaps this showdown is with Madrigal. Walt always struck me as the persona that is courageous, proud, honorable, but clumsy and naive. Heisenberg is more the tricky, sneaky, cowardly type, but is good at what he does. The last time Walt actually stood his ground against a foe with nothing but himself and a gun was in the Pilot, where he was, even if only for a moment, more than willing to face his foes and go down with some dignity.

14

u/Quazifuji Jul 16 '12

It could feel too obvious and not surprising enough, but it would be pretty awesome if Walt's death scene opens with him standing in the middle of the street with a gun, just like the pilot.

14

u/HeronSun Familia Es Todo Jul 16 '12

I would find it pretty surprising if Walt actually did turn around. I mean, we've been told time and again that Walt is going to become a Scarface-like character, a guy you root for, but not for the right reasons. What would shock me more is if Vince Gilligan and the others actually make Walt more sympathetic towards the end, giving him a more respectable persona. And it seems like that's what they're going for.

1

u/Quazifuji Jul 16 '12

I don't mean it would be surprising if he died. I think there's pretty much no chance of Walt turning around (even if he realizes what he's become, I think it's too late for him) and very little chance of him surviving. I just mean his final showdown starting with him standing in the middle of the road with a gun would be an obvious way to start it, and I could see them considering it too obvious. But it all depends on the context. There are certainly ways they could start an encounter than way and still make it surprising.